In the month of September, and concluding on the feast of St Francis on October 4, many people focus on creation. For Christians, creation is not merely an academic discussion about evolution or not – it is now, much more, seen as an essential part of mission, in partnership with others who share concern for
Creation Season 2017 Read More »
We are in the middle of The World Buskers Festival. I have written previously about busking as a model for worship – particularly for leading worship. So this post has a throwback-Thursday component. I want to add to previous reflections a new thought. Busking is essentially street theatre – gathering a spontaneous crowd. I think
Busking and Worship Read More »
On Sunday it was the 25th anniversary of my ordination as priest, and the local parish, St Michael and All Angels, invited me to preside and preach. The Priest in Charge (Canon Craufurd Murray – the vicar is away on Study Leave) was the one who presented me 25 years ago, and was my training
Advent Celebration and Sermon Read More »
A recent article in The Guardian (do read the whole article if you like) concludes, Churches that are theologically conservative with beliefs based on a literal interpretation of the Bible grow faster than those with a liberal orientation, according to a five-year academic study. Let me put some points in dialogue with this realisation: To
Church Growth Through Biblical Literalism? Read More »
Many people focus on creation during the month of September – a “creation season” concluding on the feast of St Francis on October 4. By this is not meant some tiresome, month-long preaching against evolution, but an examination of how we humans live within this created world, and a recommitment to living appropriately, as God
Creation Season 2016 Read More »
Two Sources of Authority There is an apologetics oversimplification which gives the (straw-man) impression that alongside the written words of the scriptures, the apostles verbally told the bishops they ordained supplementary material which each bishop has passed on verbally to the next bishops they ordained in an unbroken chain of oral tradition. This is obviously
Let us pray (in silence) [that we grow in unity with God – the source of all good] pause O God,the strength of all who hope in you,mercifully accept our prayers,and, because through the weakness of our mortal naturewe can do nothing without you,grant us the help of your grace,that in following your commandswe may
Doing the social-media rounds is the recent Guardian editorial on disappearing Christianity: suppose it’s gone for ever? It reflects on the British Social Attitudes data and says, The study also shows that Christianity is extremely bad at either making converts or retaining cradle believers. The two big denominations, the Catholics and the Church of England,
End of the Anglican Church (part 2)? Read More »
The earliest collection of the sayings of Jesus, written down in Hebrew by Jesus’ disciple Matthew, has been found. These sayings, older than our gospels, now leave us with unprecedented questions: if they disagree with the gospels, which do we follow? Should we add this to the Bible? Biblical scholars and students of history will
Archaeologists Find Q Read More »
Christians disagree. About lots of things. We disagree about war, and when it is just to fight in war. We disagree about evolution and science. We disagree about divorce. We disagree about the place of women in church leadership. This post is not debating particular disagreements – this is looking at “the next layer up”,
When Christians Disagree Read More »
